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platypus

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About platypus

  • Birthday 05/30/1970

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    Tanguay

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  1. Hal Gill is comparatively slow there is no doubt. But his size brings a needed dimension to the defense. Is there no way via a concerted physical training program to improve him on that front? If part of an athlete is training, and no one has ever scientifically tried to augment him in this regard, who is to say he couldn't improve his skating 20 or 30%? A skating trainer would need to first ascertain why he is so slow - slow acceleration? stride that causes too much drag? leg muscles not strong enough? bad balance? Would figure skates help him to find his centre of gravity? Yes, it's comedic in a way, but the size of the guy leaves me wanting more out of him.
  2. first time as a habs fan where I have not looked forward to what the new guys would bring us. this is a horrid trade in every respect.
  3. i clicked on that link yesterday because the user name seemed familiar to me for some reason. i thought it was some russian hockey news accessible only by inputting that code. lol i must have been sleeping. anyhow i did some research and it posts to it being prorat trojan. this apparently is pretty dangerous but as far as the info available, only affects xp/2000 systems. i work on vista but i did a full scan and then restored my computer to an earlier date. i'm kicking myself for being so dumb.
  4. There is a law in Quebec that the language of the workplace must be french. Playing, coaching and managing the Canadiens should therefore be dictated by this mandate. What occurs in practice however in an entirely different thing. Given the necessity of fielding a multi-national team in order to compete, there is a difficulty in communication between players, between players and coach. In practice, only english, being the language of business, can be used in the context of modern sports teams to learn to play together. The only requirement would be that a coach speak english and that all international players are able to speak and/or understand english. That is of course if the only objective were to field a competitive, coherent team. We know that is not the case. The hockey club is at its core a business and public relations play a prominent role in keeping the customers (fans) content and involved. That would mean an ability to communicate in the language of the majority for a population sensitive to issues of linguistic fragility. This means that french speaking is an absolute for the coach who is to act as the spokesperson for each performance (game). Winning is secondary in the province of Quebec to all things related to the proper upkeep of the french identity. And if this is what the customer wants, the customer must get. ...I've only realized how ingrained certain attitudes have become. The comments by Boivin, the raucous fervour over Lecavalier, the criticism of benching or trading away french players, have cemented in me a belief that the Canadiens are no longer about winning without prejudice - instead, the so-called majority seem to want to win only if it can showcase a french player or coach as the sun by which all the planets aligned in harmonious orbit. I'm saddened by the constancy of criticism relating to this ancient hockey club. I'm disillusioned by the obvious impact such criticism has on the ability of the club to progress in the cyclical pattern of greatness and crappiness and instead has it on a course of mediocrity as its future platform. I'm angry that I am in the minority in wanting the club to win without the issue of language pervading its soul. To reduce the coaching candidate base by whether he can speak french or not is consistent with all I've experienced living in Quebec, and it too is over-correction of the historical repression. But if the french really want to continue every year with linguistic criticism and demands, perhaps there is should be a further push. Let those who demand a french coach be consistent. Let that demand filter to the players. Let it filter to all management and scouting. Make practices in french. It CAN be done. Through trade, all non-francophone players could be replaced easily. Drafting could also be all francophone through pick and trade. Let us make it a grand experiment in how a people, believing in their own hockey superiority, field a team of their own image. And at that point, perhaps I can let go my own attachment to a team and a fan base that hold such fond memories because at that point, they will resemble nothing of kind of the team I once knew. And I will wonder how a people would rather have Lecavalier than a joyously competitively player like Ovechkin (when compared at their peaks) simply because of a name. -john an allophone from Quebec
  5. I'd like to see Tanguay back with Koivu and Kovalev. Even if Laraque is negating Chara, he is obviously no offensive threat negating the overall effect. In any event, we are losing because of our penalty kill being completely at the mercy of their power play. That puzzle must be solved for any possibility of victory. Attempting to avoide penalties simply leads to frustration and pointing fingers.
  6. someone has to be blamed - isn't that part of being a habs fan? i too wanted to say price should maybe could be a bit more agressive (ie have been out more). but i've only played goalie briefly. i think we may all be a little annoyed with how things are going atm.
  7. The RFA compensation under the new CBA: 660,000 or less: none 660,000 to 1 million: 3rd Rd draft pick 1 million to 2 million: 2nd Rd pick 2 million to 3 million: 1st and 3rd pick 3 million to 4 million: 1st, 2nd and 3rd rd picks 4 million to 5 million: 2 first rd picks, 1 second and 1 third Over 5 million: FOUR 1st round picks I think no GM would offer big #### more than 4 million a year of the 4-5 million return compensation. Gainey would however most likely match unless an uncoming draft was particularly rich imo. In any event, most GMs are aware how Lowe ostracized himself and are unlikely to try to poach.
  8. Looking at past NHL drafts one can't help but stop in the year 1997. That year, we had the 11th pick and chose Jason Ward. The 12th pick was Ottawa's who turned out to be Marian Hossa. I find it strange the thought of rectifying that gross error by trading 4 of our players to rent him for several months with no guarantee on future service. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be. Maybe fate itself is balancing out the evil hand it dealt us in 1997 by allowing us to avoid him now so many years later. I personally don't want Hossa at 8 million per year. It's obscene for a player who reminds me of Yashin in terms of greed and lack of loyalty. This team as it is gives me joy partly because they seem tightly knit and seem to actually like one another. When I see smiles when they win, utter dissappointment when they lose, that gives me back a hockey that is less commercial. Just my feeling anyhow. If we sign Hossa for 5 years/$40 million in the summer, I think I would be less inclined to care about the team. Let's start an anti-Hossa campaign to keep him off the team! (last statement is only half in jest) -John
  9. Look, Pittsburgh paid an awful lot for a player they may not be able to sign. If 2 young NHLers, 1 prospect, and a 1st rounder is what was necessary, why would Gainey make that trade? Higgins, Latendresse, Emelin and our 08 1st for a guy who may demand 8 million a year and go wherever the bidding is highest? Please let's be reasonable. Pittsburgh is obviously putting everything on winning this year, and it is an extremely poor decision. As for Huet, I'm not sure what the rational was but I'm sure Halak's great play impacted on that decision. Plus am I the only one that felt there was unhappiness in Huet with the constant Price love?
  10. HUET to WASHINGTON FOR 2nd ROUND PICK. LOL if true
  11. Smoke needs to be benched permanently. We indeed should recall Chipchura to take the spot where Smoke has simply floated around the ice doing little to nothing. We must also remember that Price and Chipchura are roomies in Montreal and that in itself may have an indirect effect on Price's mental preparedness/relaxation. I am of the camp that we should trade Huet now and take a gamble on a Price/Halak tandem. It's not that Huet is a bad goalie - I just believe that he does not have an intuitive sense of the net as evidenced in great goalies. If we look at the past, Huet will most likely remain a decent goalie with mid-season decline in play due to fatigue and a very suspect ability to rise up in the most important games. Consider what occurred last year in our last game against the Maple Leafs - while the majority of the goals were screens/tips/flukes, it nevertheless seemed very much like the Gods are not with him. We should have won that game handily. Now the argument is that Price right now is inconsistent. But so is Huet. And Halak has not been given a fair shot at the big game. Halak in my opinion has the intangibles that could make him a fan favourite superstar a la Hasek. Halak competing against Price for the #1 job could also be an unlifting competition in comparison to the increasingly unhealthy rotation of Price/Huet that is currently ongoing. Price and Huet both seem nervous with this philosophy of changing goalies upon losing. If a goalie needs to be loose to play well, this is absolutely the worst thing to do. Especially in Montreal where a goalie goes from hero to dog in about 2 minutes, a coach needs to allow a goalie to remeed himself as soon as possible to maintain confidence. Finally, I have been on the fence about the goalie coaching of Melanson. I do agree that it is a good idea to have a goalie coach, but one that knows what to say and how to augment a goalie's technical performance without detriment to that goalie's style. Watch Price's style in recent games and compare it to earlier in the season and in the Junior World's. His style seems to have changed. In fact, when I turn on the game after it has started, sometimes I can't identify whether it is Huet or Price in the net! I don't mind if a goalie can't stop a puck if I believe that no other goalie could have stopped said puck in said situation. But there are so many goals lately that seem stoppable "if only". If only he came out higher and challenged that slapshot. If only he tried looking through the screen. If only he could be more intuitive to see how the play was developing. Now Melanson was said to have gone to Hamilton to coach Price on "seeing the puck" better. What exactly does this mean? And is whaatever Melanson coaching him actually helping him? He seems further in the net and really using a lot of energy at the wrong time. Price should go back to whatever he was doing before (perhaps fatherly goalie advice?). Earlier in the season, Price was coming out of the net more, playing the puck. He seems to limit that activity now. Did they tell him not to do it? Because in my mind, a young Patrick Roy, a young Cam Ward, A young Ken Dryden, they were all successful because they were playing their way with confidence and fun. Price LIKES playing the puck. They should encourage it even if an odd strange goal results. Finally, there is one thing I dislike about both Price and Huet. It's the pose as the goal is occuring. The statue as I like to call it. You guys must have seen the recent Brodeur highlight where he swats the puck in the air to prevent a goal. Or the many classic Hasek moves of desperation that stop a puck. I want that intensity. People say Price tries to stay even emotionally. If that means not to lose confidence that is great, but I don't think he is being successful at that. Roy got emotional - not losing self-confidence but getting angry, pumping himself up and that self-pumping is what suggested he would be one of the greatest money goalies ever. I'm simply unhappy with the goalie situation and I hope we change it up a bit and people play like how we know they can. -John
  12. The Hossa rumour seems to have some weight. The latest rumour on the radio is : RECHHI AND HOSSA for EMELIN and McDO If true, I will cry heavy tears of pain. -John
  13. Koivu appears to be unhappy. While he has always been a liability in the defensive zone, it has become more pronounced with Higgin's disappearance and Ryder's meandering play. Koivu has been hooking opponents all his career, but more so now from what only be speculated as frustration with his loss of strength and speed, discontent with the relegation of his line to number 2 and/or general malaise. Koivu's penalty minute total at this point of the season equals that for all of last season at approximately 74 minutes. How do you inspire a captain to regain a past physical finesse and mental acumen? I believe that we will still see moments when Koivu sparkles offensively, but the mind numbing inability to contribution to defensive zone clearance and the mental incompetence to stop jabbing his stick all over the opponent in front of the referee seal his fate negatively in relation to the Canadiens. Like many of you, I've had enough of Brisebois. If the man had any pride, he would retire. Friendships can blind a business relationship and such may be the case with respect to Brisebois' relationship to Carbonneau and Gainey. Opponent forwards easily skate around Brisebois, and maintain total control against the boards against him. He often pinches at the wrong time. His power play functionality is also very suspect. I can not find one aspect of his game that should not relegate him to observer status. I will continue to boo him and have booed him in the past when Gainey came out in his defense. The fans do not lie. The fans see what is so evident and if Gainey/Carbonneau want to spare their friend the ignomious label of loser in the playoffs, they are best to sit him and advise him to retire. "I'm KooKoo for KoKo Puffs." They are an offensive line the likes of which have not produced such glee in me since Lafleur Shutt and Lemaire (of course vastly different in style). It's nice to finally have some line stability and skewing of playing time towards them. I've never believed in playing lines equally nor the massive amounts of shuffling attributed to Carbonneau in the past. Hopefully, this will continue even through the times when the line is temporarily not productive. -John
  14. Hi guys, my second post ever here. My first post concerned avoiding the flu to repress the mid-season swoon represented in recent years by our club. Early second hand reports suggest that the team is very aware of how the cold/flu can slice a team apart and have taken measures to quarantine team members and personnel exhibiting such symptoms. Great job. Hopefully, they will continue to be on guard as the peak of the flu season is now upon us. Apparently, this next month will be characterized by a high level of flu penetration with a particularly nasty variety. Wash your hands! Don't rub your noses! Great result last night in New Jersey. One question popped into my head related to why we do so poorly in second periods - could it be that part of our second period decay is caused by poor line changes? It is only in the second period when the bench of the team is further from the defensive zone and hence any deficiency in line changing/timing/matching would be detrimental to our play. In my opinion, Carbonneau seems extremely keen on matching lines and this may have the unwanted effect of mistimed changes in the second period. Last night's second period "too many men on the ice" penalty is an example of this sort of short coming (does anyone know how many too many men penalties we've taken and how that compares to other teams?). In any event, what are people's opinions about line matching? Do we match our defensive line to the offensive line of the opponent? Do we go with our offensive line (Ko-Ko-Nec) against the opponent's offensive line if that line is determined to be defensively weak? What changes in the method of line changing is needed in the second period to match the efficiency of such changes with the first and third when the bench is closer? I am frustrated sometimes by what I think are overly short shifts that seemingly end when there is an opening in a play. Anyone think this? -John
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